Students finish drug education course

D.A.R.E. has been an integral tool in educating Michigan youths of the dangers of drugs for the last 25 years, a quarter decade that saw roots take hold in Cheboygan and spread across the state.

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By MARK SPENCLEY

Cheboygan Daily Tribune - Cheboygan, MI

By MARK SPENCLEY

Posted Dec. 13, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By MARK SPENCLEY
Posted Dec. 13, 2012 at 12:01 AM

CHEBOYGAN

By MARK SPENCLEY

mark@cheboygantribune.com

CHEBOYGAN — D.A.R.E. has been an integral tool in educating Michigan youths of the dangers of drugs for the last 25 years, a quarter decade that saw roots take hold in Cheboygan and spread across the state.

Wednesday’s D.A.R.E. graduation at Bishop Baraga Catholic School was a milestone recognized statewide.

Dan Frazier, Cheboygan County Sheriff officer, was the first Michigan police officer to be certified to teach D.A.R.E. and Bishop Baraga was the first school in Michigan to offer the program some 25 years ago.

“Its pretty neat,” said Frazier. “To be celebrating 25 years for me teaching D.A.R.E. here and Baraga, the first school in Michigan to offer it, that’s pretty neat.”

To get his original certification, Frazier traveled to Springfield, Ill., with two other Michigan police officers for an education and training program.

Once he was certified, he returned to Cheboygan and took an active role in education kids on the dangers of drug use.

He started with Bishop Baraga and the program quickly spread from that start.

“Its all over the state now,” Frazier said of D.A.R.E. “It’s a great program and its important.

“Here’s something I learned that hit me right between the eyes: the average age for a person to become addicted to prescription drugs in Michigan is 12 years old,” he continued. “Twelve. That’s unbelievable.”

The fifth grade students who graduated from the D.A.R.E. program Wednesday have been taught about drugs, their harmful affects, and ways to avoid them. Applying those lessons will provide an avenue to a healthy lifestyle.

“D.A.R.E. is a tool,” Frazier said addressing the students before passing certificates of completion. “It will not work if you don’t use it.”

The three leading drugs young people in Michigan grapple with are alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco. For many, this three drugs provide a first experience that leads to more serious drug use.